San Francisco Shopping Guide - San Francisco offers some of the best shopping in the world, so it is no wonder that tourists and serious shopaholics alike want to spend some time and money in San Francisco's varied shopping centers, districts and malls. Union Square, Hayes Valley, upper Fillmore, the Mission, Sacramento Street, Chinatown and downtown's San Francisco Shopping Center offer a unique style with one-of-a-kind shops, each mall and neighborhood with a distinctive feel suited to any shopper's mood, from urban sophisticate to funk fantastic:

Westfield San FranciscoEpicenter: Market and Powell, San Francisco CA
For San Francisco visitors and tourists, the opulent Westfield San Francisco mall and its surrounding downtown San Francisco shopping environs (Union Square is just a few blocks away) epitomize the San Francisco shopping experience. A gold and marble stronghold of commercialism, the Westfield San Francisco Centre was guarded by police barricades during the peace protests before the Iraq War, and is home to some of the world's largest American chains, including a five-story Nordstrom's, a two-level Abercrombie & Fitch, numerous outlets found in malls across the country such as Victoria's Secret and Bebe, and including high-end retailers like Kenneth Cole and Club Monaco.Downtown San Francisco Hotels | Downtown San Francisco Restaurants

Chestnut Street ShoppingEpicenter: Chestnut and Scott, San Francisco CA
Chestnut is a street lined with a mix of sophisticated shops, beauty outlets and restaurants alongside brand name retailers. While unique and offbeat in nature, Chestnut Street retains a distinctive neighborhood feel. Here shoppers and locals find incredible shoe boutiques like Rabat featuring trendy but functional footwear and specialty shops like Blue Bird, a gift shop carrying kitschy gifts like porcelain dolls and oversized potato heads. Well-known retailers, like Gap Body or the small, unique Chadwick's of London for cotton and lace lingerie, lend a mass appeal. Williams-Sonoma, a neighborhood fixture, has the best in cookware, utensils and cookbooks. For beauty care, Bare Essentials or the Body Shop will keep you looking great with the best in cosmetics and skincare. A lunch break on Chestnut means a choice of Cafe Marimba, an open, airy colorful Mexican restaurant or Cozmo's which prepares wood oven meats and seafood paired with California wines. On any day, Chestnut Street is bustling with shoppers, professionals meeting for coffee at Bechelli's or neighborhood Moms with strollers shopping at Books, Inc. The highlights of this cozy San Francisco neighborhood are a sophisticated ambience and streamlined energy conducive to shopping.Marina District Hotels | Marina District Restaurants

Chinatown ShoppingEpicenter: Bush St. and Grand Ave., San Francisco CA
Enter the Dragon Gates for access to another, redder and more-bustling world of shopping in San Francisco's Chinatown, tucked loudly away between North Beach and Union Square shopping. Ornate lampposts, pagoda roofs and a Bank of America that could just as well be in Shanghai highlight San Francisco's eclectic Chinatown. At every turn, candles burn and vivid silks grace the jam-packed window fronts, where import vendors sell nearly everything, including (but by no means limited to) carved Buddhas, paper parasols and regal mahogany furniture, perfect for exotic gifts or indulgent tourist fodder. Apothecaries abound, selling delicate green teas, rose-scented black teas and a variety of other ailment-banishing brews by the ounce. For a sweet surprise, the fragrant Fortune Cookie Factory tucked away on Ross Alley is an exciting find. Chinese food is just as abundant: for some of the best in San Francisco, the inexpensive House of Nanking is just off Chinatown's main drag a few blocks west on Kearny (at Jackson).North Beach & Chinatown Hotels | Chinatown Restaurants

Embarcadero Center 1-4 ShoppingEpicenter: Sacramento to Clay, San Francisco CA
Embarcadero is an underutilized shopping expanse, usually crowded with professionals who work in the nearby towers or locals who know this San Francisco mall is light on foot traffic but heavy on great stores and accessory shops. Embarcadero is retail haven with brand names like Gap, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Liz Claiborne, Victoria Secret and Express Jeans. Even though the Embarcadero holds big names, this San Francisco shopping mall has unusual stores: the Discovery Channel Store for science lovers and the Giants Dugout for the sports enthusiast. The mall's spacious outdoor and indoor design lends itself to a more comfortable and easy shopping experience. The Embarcadero is contoured for the busy shopper with wide walkways and well-placed stairwells. During sunny days, the upstairs patio is perfect for patrons dining at Fuzio, a high-energy Italian restaurant or for coffee drinkers at Java City. The shopping mall is also home to the Embarcadero Theater, a movie house showing the brightest alternative and independent films by top directors.Embarcadero and Waterfront Hotels | Embarcadero and Waterfront Restaurants

Fillmore Street ShoppingEpicenter: Fillmore and California, San Francisco CA
On Fillmore Street, it's easy to feel pampered with several well-known beauty retailers and ritzy interior design boutiques fresh out of New York. Rachel Ashwell's Shabbychic furniture and bedroom design store is next to Betsy Johnson's runway shop on this luxe stretch of Fillmore that combines a busy wealthy Victorian neighborhood with a thriving San Francisco shopping center. Every shopping wish list is checked off here with select perfumeries, furniture designers like Zinc Details and specialty beauty outlets like Aveda. A distinctly picturesque part of town, Fillmore Street maintains an air of charm and simplicity while still offering a luxurious and high-end lifestyle.Pacific Heights Restaurants

Haight Street ShoppingEpicenter: Haight and Ashbury, San Francisco CA
The stretch of shops, referred to by San Francisco locals as the Upper Haight, was the center of '60s psychedelia. Despite gentrification, t still retains its hippie counterculture credentials, and is dotted with Victorian houses, anarchist bookstores, piercing salons and funky clothing shops. Taking cues from New York and Los Angeles, as well as showcasing local Bay Area designers, the thoroughly modern Jaxx is a true urban outfitter, while just across the street at X-Generation, knock-offs of the originals go for much less. On Haight Street, one of the most eclectic and perennially busy San Francisco shopping stretches, San Francisco shoppers can find just about anything, from hardware to punk gear and fishnets to upscale vintage. With food and booze choices just as prolific (try Cha Cha Cha's for sangria and tapas or Kanzaman for a vanilla hookah and a beer), locals as well as out-of-towners spend time shopping (or just window gazing) on the Haight's incense-scented sidewalks. For music-philes, the bowling alley turned record store, Amoeba Records, is one the Haight's biggest draws.Haight Street Restaurants

Hayes Valley ShoppingEpicenter: Hayes and Gough, San Francisco CA
The Hayes Valley is a beautiful blend of art and commerce in a small San Francisco neighborhood brimming with art galleries, contemporary boutiques, interior design studios, outdoor cafes and wine bars. This stretch of San Francisco shopping, in view of the San Francisco Symphony and Opera House, is a great place to find out-of-the-ordinary items like, crafted ultra-modern club chairs, black ribboned dancing shoes and a funky tabletop in shocking blue. Hayes Valley does not tolerate chain names or major outfitters that would infringe on the artful and airy style of the neighborhood. Located at 345 Gough Street is Shoppe Unusual, where over 30 local artists' works are on display in one of Hayes Valley's largest and most colorful retail spaces. Some other unique shopping experiences include 560 Hayes Vintage Boutique, Buu, Gimme Shoes and Evelyn's Antique Chinese Furniture.Hayes Valley Restaurants

North Beach ShoppingEpicenter: Grant and Columbus, San Francisco CA
North Beach, the unmistakable Italian district of San Francisco, boasts an Italian style and energy that permeates every boutique and restaurant. North Beach is the perfect shopping getaway because visitors will dine as the Romans do while finding unique European-inspired boutiques along Grant Avenue. Old Vogue carries a vintage wardrobe for men and women with the occasional funky piece.North Beach & Chinatown Hotels | North Beach Restaurants

Mission Street ShoppingEpicenter: Valencia St. and 16th St., San Francisco CA
For tourists and San Francisco shoppers with more eclectic and far flung tastes, the Mission is the perfect place to cater to unconventional whims. The Mission a colorful stretch of blocks with offbeat boutiques and funky ethnic clothing and furniture stores. Living up to its catch-all attitude, the Mission offer most anything, but with a funky twist such as mini snakeskin boots for toddlers, white go go boots, velvet hunting hats, and vintage hipster fashion mixed in with discount fabric and bridal stores. However, mixed in with the eccentric is the Mission's predominantly Latino working class which operate authentic bakeries and fresh markets. Standouts include Rayon Vert, the eclectic home and florist shop and Fishbowl, the art and clothing gallery. Eateries add a unique flavor to the Mission with taquerias and fresh produce stands on every corner.Mission District Restaurants

Polk Street ShoppingEpicenter: Polk St. and Broadway, San Francisco CA
Polk Street is one of the most divergent shopping neighborhoods in San Francisco, offering a blend of high-end consignment shops, affordable retail outfits shops and low-end clothing stores. Different tastes and budgets are accommodated on Polk: the outdoor enthusiast will find Lombardi Sports a sports haven, the uber Mom can find pink tees for herself and baby at Girl Stuff, and the socialite looking for an affordable Chanel jacket can stop in at CRIS, an upscale-only consignment store. Polk is best for out-of-town shoppers who like the gritty mixed in with some high style, the upscale with the zany.Polk Street Restaurants

Sacramento Street ShoppingEpicenter: Sacramento and Presidio, San Francisco CA
Sacramento Street shopping is on the cusp between Pacific Heights and Presidio Heights in a quiet residential neighborhood. The main features are the interior decor shops and high-end, but fun, clothing boutiques. Sacramento offers household items from small to large, from cashmere sofa throws and scented Florentine soaps to oversized Persian rugs and 19th century French tables. When done buying for the home, shoppers can indulge their fashion tastes with bathing suits designed by Shoshana at Brown Eyed Girl, a shop designed to look like the interior of a hip apartment, and view Jimmy Choo sandals and Prada heels at Fetish shoes. Sacramento Street is the ultimate deluxe shopping avenue with fantastic finds squeezed into a compact little block.Pacific Heights Restaurants

Chestnut Street - Chestnut Street is located in the Marina/Cow Hollow area of San Francisco and runs parallel to Union Street and Lombard, about 4 blocks from the Bay. The great mix of neighborhood, trendy and some great chains like Williams-Sonoma make Chestnut Street a great place to shop and hang out. There are many great eateries and quite a gathering in the evening for dining and socializing.

Embarcadero District - Located in San Francisco's financial district, the beautiful Embarcadero area has great shopping opportunities from some individual and unique type stores to some smaller chains like Bare Escentuals and some national chains like The Gap. In between all the great shops, you will find many fine and casual eating establishments as well as dessert and coffee shops.

Fillmore Street - Fillmore Street holds some of San Francisco's most famous shops and restaurants. This street filled with unique and delightful stores, restaurants and coffee shops stretches from Jackson to Geary on Fillmore Street.

Haight Street - This scene from the sixties in San Francisco carries wonderful funky and eclectic shops along with bike and rollerblading/skating rental shops. Haight is nothing if not colorful and the people up and down the street as well. There are two great parts to Haight - both Upper and Lower Haight Street. Shop awhile and then rent a bike or skates and take trip through the Golden Gate Park.

Hayes Valley - Hayes Valley in San Francisco is a unique shopping district featuring: art and artifacts, bordeaux and beer, vintage wear and fresh dressings, resale and collectibles, cozy cafes and hip bars, souffles and sauerbraten, antique divans and modern chairs, fancy confections and cool housewares, handcrafted jewels and handmade frames. Located near the SF Symphony and Ballet, you can enjoy some culture while meeting friends for shopping or dining.

North Beach - It's hard to say which North Beach has more of - great restaurants and outdoor cafes or unique shops up Grant Avenue. Make sure if you're planning to enjoy this shopping district to leave plenty of time for eating and drinking.

Potrero Hill - Very much a neighborhood shopping experience, Potrero Hill district contains a great selection of shops you might not find anywhere else.

Sacramento Street - Stretching from Broderick to Cherry Street along Sacramento Street you will find a very special shopping district. Wonderful shops like The Deskset, who make custom invitations for that very special gathering to many incredible shops to decorate your home's interior.

Union Square - World famous Union Square. What can one say about so many incredible stores all in one place. And now with the square renovated, don't forget to factor in some time to just plunk yourself down on a bench or on the grass and enjoy a beautiful day outdoors, resting your tired feet. You can find just about everything here.

Union Street - Union Street, one of the most favorite and well trafficked shopping areas in San Francisco is nestled between Pacific Heights and the Marina areas. Very upscale, unique, one-of-a-kind shops are typical on this street as well as many well known restaurants. It is also a very social area day and night.

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